[Stormster]

We have a fairly long steep staircase to the upstairs playroom. E is obsessed with going up and down. We have gates at top and bottom, The top one is great but the bottom one he can climb. So i need to buy a new one.

I noticed at a friend's house her 2.5 year old no longer had any gates. When is it safe to take off??? I do think it's too soon now but just wondering. I can't wait to get these gates out of our life!

[emtb79]

The recommended ages on most are to 24 months. However I am lisenced for daycare and my liscening specialist would prefer me not to take them down at all. One of mine is especially stumbly on the front steps of the house and he is 3 1/2 and I also use them with the 70lb black lab. I wouldn't take them down till your child can walk down the steps while holding the banister around 3 or so.

[joskids]

Storm, it depends on the child. For our oldest, we never needed gates, he had a cautious and careful personality (and still does at the age of 11). For our youngest, she's the exact opposite - ALWAYS on the go, into anything she can get away with when we turn our backs -- we JUST took the gate down about 4 mos. ago and she is about to turn 3. You know your child better than anyone. If you can't be watching them at all times and it feels safer to you to leave that gate up, then I'd leave it up.

[Gavriela]

Uuuuhhhhhhmmm I'm thinking of putting a gate on the stairs. (kidding) mine are 9, 11, 11 and why do they run up and down the stairs?

It really is a case by case situation.

Gavi

[JGarrick]

Originally Posted by Stormster

The top one is great but the bottom one he can climb.

I was going to suggest taking down the gates when he can climb over them or work the mechanism. Especially for the former (climbing) I think it's safer to have no gate than to have a kid try to climb over a gate at the top of the stairs. Climbing over just gives them an extra few feet of altitude if they fall. Also, if he's discovered that it's possible to climb one gate, he'll soon attempt the other.

[bagletkt]

Kemper is 2 1/2 and I still have all the gates. He has shown no interest in climbing over them. Also I have to great danes and I worry about them knocking him down the stairs so I do not see myine comming down any time soon.

[cetalley]

Not to make lite of your post...at what age is too old for a baby gate? I am 47 and my husband is 62...he seems to fall down alot, even if he is healthy and strong, yes winter is upon us and he fell down our steps on the deck? So to any moms out there...this includes you storm...Is age really a factor for baby gates????{{{{HUGS TO ALL}}}} Happy Holidays!

[Cjmeck]

I think with my son we took the gates off at 2yo. But even then, he was not allowed to walk down the stairs. I made him go down on his belly. He wasn't a risk-taker though; he's still my cautious child. My daughter...well, can't I keep her gated until she's 21??